Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
11:30
Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
10.4K
Hippocampal - diencephalic - cingulate networks for memory and emotion: An anatomical guide
Emma J Bubb1, Lisa Kinnavane1, John P Aggleton1
1School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, Wales, UK. CF10 3AT.
Brain and Neuroscience Advances
|September 26, 2017
Summary
Papez
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Papez's circuit (1937) initially proposed limbic connections for emotion.
- These connections involve the hippocampus, mammillary bodies, anterior thalamus, and cingulate gyrus.
- Current research implicates these structures in memory functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on limbic connections.
- To update and reconsider Papez's original circuit.
- To describe the pathways within this network.
Main Methods:
- Review of tract tracing studies.
- Analysis of anatomical connectivity.
- Synthesis of existing literature.
Main Results:
- Limbic connections are multiply interconnected, not a simple serial circuit.
- Topographical organization creates subsystems within the network.
- Two main routes exist: subcortical (fornix) and cortical (retrosplenial cortex).
Conclusions:
- Papez's circuit is a more complex hippocampal-diencephalic-cingulate system.
- Connectivity supports efferent information from the posterior medial temporal lobe.
- Longitudinal functional differences exist along the anterior-posterior plane of the hippocampus.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
7.9K
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
7.9K
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
1.7K
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
1.7K
01:30Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions
5.8K
The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the...
5.8K
01:23Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination
4.5K
The hypothalamus is a small yet highly complex and essential brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Anatomically, it is located at the base of the brain, just above the brainstem and below the thalamus, forming part of the limbic system.
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
4.5K
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.3K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.3K
01:16Role of Amygdala in Memory
1.3K
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
One of the...
1.3K